Projektdaten

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Heisenberg-Stelle: Verständnis des schnellen Schalten von Ionenkanälen mit neuen Strategien für das Zusammenspiel von theoretischen und funktionalen Ansätzen

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The Heisenberg group works on the biophysical mechanisms of transport and gating in ion channels, with a focus on potassium (K+) channels. We strive to provide new methods to test the predictions of computational approaches by functional studies. On the experimental side, this is done by using a family of miniature viral K+ channels expressed in vitro and reconstituted into artificial planar lipid bilayers, allowing very stable and reproducible recordings of ion channel currents under controlled conditions. On the analytical side, we employ data analysis algorithms to improve the temporal resolution of ion channel current recordings to allow better overlap with computational predictions. Current projects in the lab include a mechanistic explanation for a very fast gating process in the selectivity filter of K+ channels and the study of the modularity of the pore module of K+ channels by the creation of channel chimeras.